John Cassaday, the prolific comic book artist behind the acclaimed Astonishing X-Men and Planetary, has passed away at the age of 52. Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Cassaday began his career with smaller indie publishers before his talent caught the attention of major names like Marvel and DC Comics. His breakthrough came with Planetary, co-created with Warren Ellis in 1999, which earned him two Eisner Awards for its groundbreaking narrative and visuals.
Cassaday rose to greater prominence in 2004 with his collaboration on Astonishing X-Men, written by Joss Whedon. His dynamic art style helped rejuvenate the X-Men franchise, winning him more Eisner Awards. He continued his success with Marvel’s Star Wars relaunch in 2015, where his work was pivotal in the comic’s near-million-copy sales.
Throughout his career, Cassaday worked on iconic characters like Captain America, Superman, and Batman, leaving behind a rich legacy of storytelling through art.